WEBVTT
P>> HE WAS GENEROUS, HE WAS
PHANDSOME, HE OWNED HIS OWN
PBUSINESS, HE WAS A RACE CAR
PDRIVER
PREPORTER: HIS NAME WAS IAN
PPROUT, AND HE WAS ALSO ASHLEY
PMCAVEY'S BIG BROTHER.
P>> WE SAID WE LOVED EACH OTHER
PEVERY SINGLE DAY
PREPORTER: IAN TOOK HIS OWN LIFE
PON APRIL NINTH THIS YEAR.
P>> MY BROTHER WAS THE MOST
PBEAUTIFUL, GENEROUS, KINDEST
PSOUL ON THE PLANET BUT HE
PSUFFERED SILENTLY.
PREPORTER: MCAVEY IS JUST ONE OF
PTHE THOUSANDS TAKING PART IN THE
POUT OF THE DARKNESS WALKS ACROSS
PTHE COUNTRY RAISING AWARENESS
PFOR SUICIDE PREVENTION.
P>> ITS ONE WAY TO GET SURVIVORS
PTO BE TOGETHER AS A GROUP AND
PHELP SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER.
PREPORTER: AND IT'S A BIG ISSUE
PIN THE GREEN MOUNTAIN STATE.
PONCE, EVERY THREE DAYS, A
PVERMONTER TAKES THEIR OWN LIFE.
P124 PAIRS OF SHOES WERE SPRAWLED
PACROSS THE LAWN, REPRESENTING
PEACH OF THE PEOPLE LOST IN THE
PLAST YEAR.
PORGANIZERS SAY MORE NEEDS TO BE
PDONE TO END THE STIGMAS RELATED
PTO SUICIDE.
P>> TRYING TO GET THE EDUCATION
PMORE PARTICULARLY IN THE SCHOOLS
PIS A BIG THING. THE YOUNGER THAT
PWE CAN TEACH STUDENTS ABOUT
PSUICIDE PREVENTION, ABOUT THE
PWARNING SIGNS, TO REACH OUT TO
PAN ADULT, I THINK GENERALLY
PTHAT'S WHAT ALL AROUND REALLY
PNEEDS TO BE DONE
PREPORTER: THE GROUP SHARED
PSTORIES AND A MOMENT OF SILENCE
PBEFORE SETTING OUT ON A THREE
PWITH EACH STEP, MCAVEY SAYS
PSHE'S IS KEEPING HER BROTHER
PCLOSE.
P>> I HAVE IN THE FACT THAT'S A
PTRUE LOVE HE KNEW HOW MUCH WE
PALL LOVED HIM AND WE ALL KNE
PHOW MUCH HE LOVED US

As suicide rates climb in Vermont hundreds hit the pavement to raise awareness of the growing problem.

“He was generous, he was handsome, he owned his own business, he was a race car driver,” said Ashley McAvey of her older brother Ian Prout.

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“We said we loved each other every single day,” McAvey said.

Prout took his own life on April 9 this year.

“My brother was the most beautiful, generous, kindest soul on the planet but he suffered silently,” McAvey said.

She’s just one of the thousands taking part in the out of the darkness walks across the country raising awareness for suicide prevention.

“Its one way to get survivors to be together as a group and help support one another,” said organizer Linda Livendale of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

It’s a big issue in the Green Mountain State. Once every three days a Vermonter takes their own life. 124 pairs of shoes were sprawled across the lawn to represent each of the people lost in the last year. Organizers said more needs to be done to end the stigmas related to suicide.

“Trying to get the education more particularly in the schools is a big thing. The younger that we can teach students about suicide prevention, about the warning signs, to reach out to an adult, I think generally that's what all around really needs to be done,” Livendale said.

The group shared stories and a moment of silence before setting out on a three mile walk.

With each step, McAvey said she's is keeping her brother close.

“I have in the fact that's a true love he knew how much we all loved him and we all knew how much he loved us,” McAvey said.

If you or someone you know is struggling, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-271-TALK.